Golf practice device



May 3, 1949. s. QUATTRIN GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Filed May 26, 1947INVENTOR. SA/VTE OUAT/N BY I,

ATTORNEY Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a golf practice device.

Wrist action is a very important part of a golf stroke. As the golf clubis swung back at a certain angle of the back stroke, the wrists turnupwardly. On the down stroke of the golf club the arms bring the clubdown to an angle approaching the ball. In order to have a true andforceful stroke it is necessary that the wrists b snapped just beforethe golf club hits the ball so as to forcefully hit the club headagainst the golf ball. This so-called wrist action requires training anddeveloping of the wrists to this part of the stroke.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device on which thewrist action in the golf stroke may be practiced, and in which the clubhead encounters increasing resistance in about the same proportion as itwould encounter in actually hitting a ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf practice device forwrist action in which the resistance to the wrist action is adjustable.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction thereof without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as set forth in the following specification, and asdefined in the following claims, hence I do not limit my invention tothe exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to theexact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my practice device.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the slide which holds the golf ball inposition in the device.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of my practice device.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of my device, partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the abutment slide which is firstengaged by the golf club in the practice stroke.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the cushion for the return stroke of theabutment slide.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the device the section being takenon the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is another sectional view of the device the section being takenon lines 88 of Fig. 3.

The device includes a tubular frame I. This frame, in the presentillustration, consists of a base 2 the opposite longitudinal edges ofwhich are bent at right angles to form sides 3. The top of the sides 3are bent inwardly toward one another and parallel with the base 2 toform the top 4. These top flanges are integrally united at their meetingedges. The top edges of the top 4 are cut away at a portion thereof sothat when in position they form a guide slot 6. The tubular frame I isinitially open at its opposite ends for assembly purposes.

An abutment slide I is slidable from the closed end 8 of the slot 6toward the outer end 9 of the frame I. This abutment slide includes abase plate II extended transversely across the top of the frame I. Anabutment I2 extends at right angles from the leading edge I3 of thisbase plate II. In this abutment I2 is cut a substantially semi-circularrecess I4 extending from the top downwardly, which recess I4 receivestherein and overlaps the ball to be hit. On the under side of the baseplate II is pref erably integrally secured a guiding structure whichincludes a central securing rib I6 from which extends in each directiontransversely a flange Il spaced from the underface of the base plate II.Preferably the ends of the flanges I! are bent downwardly to form sideguides It. The space between the flanges I? and the underface of thebase plate II are such as to slidably fit upon the thickness of the top6 adjacent the opposite sides of the slot 6. This unit is assembled bysliding the guiding space between the flange I1 and the base plate IIover the top 4 at the slot 6 as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 8. In thisposition the side guides l8 are in slidable engagement with the oppositesides 3 of the tubular frame I.

A ball slide I9 is positioned between the abutment slide I and theslotted end 9 of the frame I. This ball slide I9 includes a base plate2| from which extends a. slanting or inclined shaft 22 solidly securedat one end to the base plate 2|. Onto the free end of the shaft 22 isfixed a golf ball 23. The length and direction of the shaft 22 is suchas to hold the ball 23 spaced substantially beyond the trailing edge ofthe base 2I so that as the abutment slide '5 reaches the ball slide l9the ball is nested in the recess I4 of the abutment I2, and the leadingedge of the abutment can engage the trailing edge of the ball slide baseplate 2| and push the latter. On the under side of the ball slide baseplate 2| is provided a guiding structure 24 of the same construction asthe guiding structure on the under side of the base plate II- of theabutment slide 1. This ball slide is assembled by sliding it into theslot 6 from the slotted end 9 of the frame I after the abutment slide 1is in position. The ball slide allows themovement of the ball after itis struck by the club head so as to approximate the feel of the socalled follow through in the 3 golf stroke, instead of an abruptstopping of the wrist action at the ball.

Resistance to the wrist action is provided by suitably resilientlyyieldable means which may be adjustable' to various tensions. In't'he-present illustration this resilient resistance is accomplished by acoil spring 26, one end of which is:

hooked into the central rib 16 of the under structure of the abutmentslide 1. of the coil spring 26 is hooked into therotatable end 21 of anadjusting screw 28} which latter is threadably secured in a detachableend plated-9 on the end of the frame II. In this mannerby. threading theset screw 28 outwardly of the end plate 29 the tension on" the spring istightened, because it is lengthened, and" vice'--versa. This resistancecompels theplaye'r toexert force by the wrist at the proper timeofthe"stroke in approaching the ball and thereby trains a firm well timedsnapping' of the wrist into the'ball striking position.

v In order that the ball 'slid'e' l"9be returnedt'o the initial positionshown in Fig; 1' when the abutment slide I is returned by'thespring 2.6,a suitable connection is provided between the slides 1- and' I9. In thepresent form a light 'cha'in"3"l has one end connected to the centralrib" iii of the abutment slide 1. The other end-of the chain 3I isconnected to the central rib lb of' the under structure 24ofthe-ball'slide [9. Thus after the abutment slide 1' is released bythe-golf club and isbeing pulled back by'the" springfldto" its initialposition it will pulli by means of the chain 31", the ball'slide I9 withit toilisinitial position.

Suitable cushioning means are provided adja'- cent the-initial positionof the abutment slide! forpreventing injury tothedevi'ce; The cushioningdevice herein illustrated includes a sub:- stantially U-shaped bracket32 which is fixed inside of the frame I. In the free ends of the legs ofthe U-shaped bracket 32' are provided longitudinal tubes 33 to'functionas holders"for cushion pins 34 which are'slidably held therein. Eachcushion pin 34" has a head 35 at each' end thereof. A coil spring 36 ispositioned around each cushion pin between the" tube" 3 3" and'the head35 facing toward'thejabutment' slide I. In-- asmuch as the U-shapedbracket 32is abou't' the same width as the inner width of the tubularframe I, the cushioning pins '34 are substantially opposite the sideguides 18 of theunder'stru'cture [of the abutment slide 1. "Thus whenthe spring 23' pulls the abutment slide 1 back to" itsinitial positionthe side guides IBabut against the respective heads if: of the pins 34and compress the spring 36. In this manner the return stroke of theabutment slide 1 is effectively cushioned".

The slotted end 9 of the frame I- isalsocovered by a removable plate31'.

The device is adapted to be used both byleft handed or right handedgolfers; For instance, in the illustration shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4-,it is adapted for the swing of a right handed golfer. In order that theplayer is" suitably aligned with the device, a pair of bushings 38 areintegrally secured on each side 3' of the frame I, properly positionedwith respect to the initial position of the abutment slide 1. Rods' 59'are inserted in the respective bushings 38' and are held in there bysuitable screws 4|. On the pair of rods 39 is sli'dab'le a'platform E2.The platform 42 is of such thickness that the person standing on thesame is standing at level with the top of the frame l. The platform hassuitable holes therethr'ough which slide over the Theother" end rods 39,and suitable set screws 43 secure the platform at a selected distancefrom the frame I according to the height of the person using the device.According to whether)v the playeriis right handed or'left handed theplatform: structure may be secured in the bushings on the respectivesides of the frame I.

I claim:

1, In a golf practice device of the character described, aframe, anabutment slide slidably held on the frame, a member on the abutmentslide'extended above the frame to be engaged by the headvof a golf club,a ball supporting slide guided on the frame normally spaced from saidabutment member toward the end of the frame away from the direction of'approach of the golf club to said abutment member arrdbeing aligned"with said member to-holda ball inthe path ofsaid club when the-saidslide is shifted to said member, and resiliently'yieldable-means toreturn saidabutmentslideto an'initial-posi tion when released by' the"head of the golf" club.

2. Ina golf practice device of the character described; a frame; anabutment slide-slidably held on the frame, a member on the abutmentslide extended above the frame to'be engaged'by the head of a golf club,a ballsupporting slide guided on the frame normally'spa'cedfrom saidabutment member toward the end of'the frame away from the direction ofapproachof-thegolf club to said abutment" member and being aligned withsaid member to hold a'b'all in" thepatl'r-of sai'd' club when the'saidslide is shifted to-said member, resiliently yield'able means to returnsaid abutment slide to an initial position when released by the head ofthegolf'club; andmeans to adjust thetensionof said resilientlyyieldablemeans.

3. In a golf practice device of the character described, a frame, anabutment slide slidably held on the frame, a member on the abutmentslide extended above the. frame tobe engaged by the-head of a golf club,a: ball supporting slide guided on the framenorma'llyspaced from saidabutment member toward the end". of" the frame away from the directionof approach of the golf club to said abutment memberand being alignedwith said member'to hold aball i'nthe path of said club when the saidslide is shifted to said member, resiliently yieldable meansto returnsaid abutment slide to an initial position when released by the head ofthe golf club, and means to return said ball supporting slideit'o theinitial spaced position from said abutment slidewhen said abutment slideis returned to its initial position.

4. In a golf practice device of the character described, a frame, anabutment slide slidably held on the frame, a member on'th'e abutmentslide extended above the frame to be engaged by the head of a golfclub,. a ball supporting, slide guided on the frame normally spaced fromsaid abutment member toward the end of the frame away from the directionof approachof the. golf club to said abutment member and being alignedwith said member to 'hold a ballin the path; of said club when the "saidslide is shifted to said member, resiliently yieldabl'ei: means toreturn said abutment slide to an initial positionwhen re.- leased by thehead of the golf club, said abutmerit slide having a-recess in theabutment portion thereof and being slidable to said ballaslide, anelement on sa-id'ball slide offset toward said recess and adaptedto holdsaid ball overlapping into said recess when said abutment slide isadjacent to said ball slide.

5. In a golf practice device of the character described, a frame, anabutment slide slidable on the frame, an abutment extended upwardly fromsaid slide being adapted to be engaged by the head of a golf club, aball slide slidable on the frame spaced from said abutment and alignedtherewith, a ball holder on said slide extended toward said abutment andholding a ball in overlapping relation to said abutment when saidabutment slide is pushed by the golf club head to said ball slide,resiliently yieldable means to resist the movement of said abutmentslide and to return said abutment slide to an initial position,connecting means between the abutment slide and the ball slide forreturning said ball slide into the initial spaced position when saidabutment slide is returned to its initial position, said resilientlyyieldable means and said connecting means being within said frame andleaving the top of said frame unobstructed.

6. In a golf practice device of the character described, a frame, anabutment slide slidable on the frame, an abutment extended upwardly fromsaid slide being adapted to be engaged by the head of a golf club, aball slide slidable on the frame spaced from said abutment and alignedtherewith, a ball holder on said slide extended toward said abutment andholding a ball in overlapping relation to said abutment when saidabutment slide is pushed by the golf club head to said ball slide,resiliently yieldable means to resist the movement of said abutmentslide toward said ball slide and to return said abutment slide to aninitial position, connecting means between the abutment slide and theball slide for returning said ball slide into the initial spacedposition when said abutment slide is returned to its initial position,said resiliently yieldable means and said connecting means being withinsaid frame and leaving the top of said frame unobstructed, said framebeing hollow, and a top on said frame on which said slides are slidable.

7. In a golf practice device of the character described, a tubular frameadapted to rest on the ground, a top of said tubular frame being spacedabove the ground, an abutment slide slidable on said top, a ball slideslidable on said top and being spaced from said abutment slide, anabutment on said abutment slide extending in the path of the movement ofthe club head, a ball holder on said ball slide extended toward saidabutment and holding a ball in overlapping relation to said abutment tobe engaged by said club head when said abutment is pushed to said ball,resiliently yieldable means urging the abutment slide to an initialposition, means in said frame to stop and cushion said abutment slide onits return stroke to said initial position.

8. In a golf practice device of the character described, a tubular frameadapted to rest on the ground, a top of said tubular frame bein spacedabove the ground, an abutment slide slidable on said top, a ball slideslidable on said top and being spaced from said abutment slide, anabutment on said abutmentslide extending in the path of the movement ofthe club head, a ball holder on said ball slide extended toward saidabutment and holding a ball in overlapping relation to said abutment tobe engaged by said club head when said abutment is pushed to said ball,resiliently yieldable means urging the abutment slide to an initialposition, means in said frame to stop and cushion said abutment slide onits return stroke to said initial position, means to return said ballslide to its initial spaced position when said abutment is returned tothe initial position, said resiliently yieldable urging means beinginside of said tubular frame and leaving the said frame topunobstructed.

9. In a golf practice device of the character described, a tubular frameadapted to rest on the ground, a top of said tubular frame being spacedabove the ground, an abutment slide slidable on said top, a ball slideslidable on said top and being spaced from said abutment slide, anabutment on said abutment slide extending in the path of the movement ofthe club head, a ball holder on said ball slide extended toward saidabutment and holding a ball in overlapping relation to said abutment tobe engaged by said club head when said abutment is pushed to said ball,resiliently yieldable means urging the abutment slide to an initialposition, means in said frame to stop and cushion said abutment slide onits return stroke to said initial position, means to return said ballslide to its initial spaced position when said abutment is returned tothe initial position, said resiliently yieldable urging means beinginside of said tubular frame and leaving the said frame topunobstructed, said abutment having a recess therein to overlap said balland permit pushing said slides together when the ball is engaged by theclub head.

10. In a golf practice device of the character described, a frame, agolf practice device on the frame including an abutment movable on theframe and engageable by the club head and resiliently yieldable means onthe frame connected to said abutment for yieldably resisting movement ofsaid abutment and for urging said abutment to an initial position and aplatform for the feet of the player being connected to said frame tohold said frame stationary by the weight of said player, said platformbeing in alignment with said initial position of said abutment.

11. In a golf practice device of the character described, a frame, agolf practice device on the frame including an abutment movable on theframe and engageable by the club head and resiliently yieldable means onthe frame connected to said abutment for yieldably resisting movement ofsaid abutment and for urging said abutment to an initial position, aplatform adapted to support the weight of a player, connecting meansbetween the platform and the frame to hold the frame stationary by theweight of the player on the platform, and adjustable connection betweensaid connecting means and said platform to support said platform at aselected distance from said frame, said platform being in alignment withsaid initial position of said abutment.

SANTE QUATTRIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,594,359 Estabrook Aug. 3, 19261,810,906 Carter June 23, 1931 1,991,252 Kane Feb. 12, 1935 2,110,925Trangmar Mar. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 431,007 GreatBritain June 28, 1935

